Smail & Ewart

Smail and Ewart dates back to 1876 when Andrew Smail came to practice in Biggar and to take up the part-time post of Town Clerk of the then Burgh of Biggar. William Ewart, the son of tea clipper captain, joined him in 1912. The firm presently has offices in Biggar and Lanark and provides a wide range of legal services to the local community and beyond.

Smail and Ewart offer a one stop property shop, being able to undertake both estate agency and legal work inhouse on your behalf - so you can be safe in the knowledge of who exactly is working for you.

Our services help you through the whole purchase and sale process and include preparation of a full Schedule of Particulars including photographs, dealing with all enquiries, arranging viewings and liasing with prospective purchasers' solicitors as well as helping you arrange mortgage facilities through our recommended Independent Financial Advisor.We work harder to ensure that your property has the necessary visibility to the market.

Everyone over the age of 16 in Scotland should have a will prepared by a qualified solicitor. Most wills are straightforward and inexpensive. Without a will there are legal rules to determine the distribution of your estate that may mean it is not divided in the way that you would have chosen. A will simplifies the administration of affairs and reduces costs for surviving husbands, wives, children and other beneficiaries.

We recommend a POA to ensure that if you are unwilling or become incapable of acting in your own affairs, both welfare and financial, then a member of your family, friend or a professional would take on that appointment to deal with your affairs on an ongoing basis. If no POA is in place at the time of incapacity the courts can appoint a guardian to manage your affairs.

We advise clients in all areas of contentious and non-contentious family and child law. We can provide expertise and support in negotiating Separation Agreements and divorce settlements. We conduct family actions in both the Sheriff Court and Court of Session and provide a commonsense and sensitive approach to difficult problems.